AgriMarketing Program — Core Stream
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
The AgriMarketing Core Stream provides non-repayable contributions exclusively to national not-for-profit industry associations and Indigenous organizations for export marketing activities such as trade missions, market research, and international promotion of Canadian agricultural products. Individual businesses and SMEs are not eligible for this stream — for-profit agri-food businesses should apply to the separate AgriMarketing Market Diversification SME Stream (ID 206).
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a national not-for-profit industry association, cooperative, or sector council operating in the agriculture/agri-food sector
- Indigenous individuals or organizations (First Nation, Inuit, or Métis) are also eligible
- Must operate on a national basis — provincial or regional associations are not eligible for this stream
- Activities must be for export market development only (not domestic marketing)
- Must contribute at least 30% of eligible project costs (50% standard; 70% covered for Indo-Pacific/underrepresented groups)
- For-profit businesses are not eligible for this stream — see AgriMarketing Market Diversification SME Stream instead
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $2,000,000 per year (max $10M over 5 years); 50% cost-share (70% for Indo-Pacific/underrepresented groups)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 70% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Applications accepted through September 30, 2027 (may close earlier)
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win AgriMarketing Program — Core Stream — $19
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 10 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 9-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 8-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Applying for AgriMarketing Program — Core Stream? Our Financial Projections Model ($29) covers the cost-share, matching-fund, and cash-flow math reviewers want to see. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThe biggest development is the brand-new Market Diversification SME stream (launched Feb 13, 2026) — this opens AgriMarketing to for-profit businesses for the first time. With $75M in fresh funding and a 70:30 cost-share (much better than the core program's 50:50), early applicants to this stream will face minimal competition as awareness is still low. If your ag/food business was redirected away from CanExport SMEs in 2026-27, this is your replacement — and the cost-share is actually more favorable. Emphasize tariff/trade disruption impacts in your application (canola, pulses, pork, and seafood are explicitly prioritized). For the Indo-Pacific emerging markets list (15 countries including Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines), both the core and new streams offer the enhanced 70:30 ratio, making these markets especially attractive targets.
Rejection Pitfalls 10
- For-profit company applying to the core program (associations/not-for-profits only — redirect to SME Market Diversification stream)
- Association does not operate at national scope and cannot demonstrate sector-wide impact
- Activities overlap with the Canada Pavilion program at flagship tradeshows
Success Profile
For the core program: a national industry association (e.g., Canada Beef, Pulse Canada, Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre) with established membership, clear export growth mandate, 2+ years of financial history, and a multi-year strategy to penetrate or grow specific international markets. Strong associations name target markets, specific trade shows, and measurable export growth targets. For the new SME stream: an agriculture/agri-food SME with under 250 employees and under $50M revenue that is currently exporting or export-ready, ideally in a sector impacted by recent trade disruptions (canola, pulses, pork, fish/seafood). SMEs with a concrete plan to diversify into non-traditional markets (especially Indo-Pacific) and that can demonstrate tariff/trade barrier impacts will score highest. Companies owned by underrepresented groups (Indigenous, women, youth, visible minorities) can access the enhanced 70:30 cost-share in the core program.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications assessed on: alignment with program export market development objectives, strategic focus (3-4 target markets preferred), S.M.A.R.T. performance objectives, organizational capacity and past performance with AAFC, value for money, and complementarity with existing market development activities. Priority to tariff-affected sectors (canola, pulses, pork, seafood) and Indo-Pacific market diversification.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 9
Eligible Expenses 8
- Industry-wide advertising and promotional campaigns in international markets
- Trade show participation, booth construction, and display materials
- Outgoing, incoming, and exploratory trade missions (economy airfare, per diems, ground transport)
- Market research aligned with program export objectives
- Technical training for international buyers on Canadian products
- Contracted services (consulting, advertising agencies, translation, printing)
- Shipping of product samples and marketing materials (samples at production cost, not retail)
- Administrative costs at 10% flat rate of direct project costs
Ineligible Expenses 6
- Entertainment, hospitality, gifts, and prizes
- Lobbying activities aimed at Canadian or foreign governments
- Capital expenditures (except trade show displays purchased exclusively for promotional use)
- Retail listing fees and foreign direct investment costs
- Routine website maintenance and general business operations
- Tourism promotion activities
Intake Periods
Continuous intake — applications accepted year-round through September 30, 2027, or until the $129.97M budget is fully committed, whichever comes first.
Deadline Notes
Traditional core intake closed May 30, 2025. New streams launched Feb 2026 with different structure. Check AAFC for current intake.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- For-profit corporations and businesses (redirected to Market Diversification SME Stream)
- Provincial or regional associations without national scope
- Individuals and sole proprietorships
- Government entities at any level
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskHow AgriMarketing Program — Core Stream Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AgriMarketing Program — Core Stream | Up to $2,000,000 | Moderate | Reimbursement | Applications accepted... |
| AgriScience Program — Projects Component | Up to $5,000,000 per project | Hard | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Export Development Canada (EDC) Finan... | Varies | Easy | Equity | Ongoing |
| Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Financing | Varies | Easy | Loan | Ongoing |
| Trade Commissioner Service – Export S... | Advisory services (non-financial) | Easy | Not Applicable | Ongoing |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about AgriMarketing Program — Core Stream